Bi-directional adjustable couplings

ABSTRACT

A pair of members, one of which has a multiplicity of projections extending therefrom in a uniform geometric pattern with the projections aligned bi-directionally at 90°, and the other member has a multiplicity of recesses arranged to mate with the projections to allow bi-directional adjustment and also locking when the members are fastened together.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 662,982, filed Mar. 1, 1976,now U.S. Pat. No. 4,035,093.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is often desirable to have a means of effecting an adjustment betweensurfaces while also being able to lock the surfaces into the adjustedposition. It is known to accomplish this result by use of matchingserrations on the two members. To make an adjustment, the surfaces areseparated, moved with relation to each other, brought together again,and the parts fastened in place. If rotational movement is desired, theserrations extend radially; if reciprocal movement is desired, theserrations extend parallel to each other. When bi-directional adjustmentis required, it is known to use three members instead of two. The middlemember has serrations on one side extending parallel to each other andserrations on the other side extending normal to the first serrations.The outside members are serrated to match the side of the middle memberbeing contacted. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,685,469, bi-directional adjustmentwas obtained by use of matching parallel serrations over a limited areaof the surfaces, matching parallel serrations normal to the firstserrations over a different limited area of the surfaces with clearancebetween the surfaces outside the serrated areas. It was found thatbi-directional adjusting lightweight couplings would be obtained by useof a multiplicity of projections with matching recesses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the members of the adjustable coupling has a multiplicity ofprojections extending outward from the surface. These projection are allarranged in a geometrical pattern in uniformly spaced, parallel,bi-directional alignment. A matching member has a multiplicity ofrecesses arranged to mate and lock with the first member when the twoparts are brought together. The parts are joined with fasteners that maybe loosened to allow adjustment.

It is an object of this invention to provide a lightweight positivelocking bi-directional coupling.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the bi-directional coupling of thisinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the coupling of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational sectional view taken along lines 3--3 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of fragmented perspective sections of thecoupling of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 shows a different embodiment of the coupling of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the coupling of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 shows yet another embodiment of the coupling of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational sectional view as in FIG. 3, showing theembodiment as in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational sectional view of yet another embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows a fragmented side elevational view with the coupling ofthis invention used to permit bi-directional adjustment of a door latch.

FIG. 11 shows a fragmented plan view of an alternate pattern of acoupling.

FIG. 12 shows a fragmented plan view of an alternate alignment of thecoupling of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Adjustable coupling 10 has members 12 and 14 which operate in abuttingrelationship to each other. Extending outward from the surface of 16 ofthe first member 12 is a multitude of similar projections 18 which arecylindrical in shape. These projections are uniformly arranged at equaldistance from each other and extend in rows or lines parallel to eachother in one direction, and also extend in lines parallel to each otherin a direction normal to or, in other words, at 90° from the first rows.

Surface 20 of the second member has a multitude of recesses 22 alsoarranged in bi-directional alignment and sized to accept the projectionswith a snug fit when the coupling members are brought together. Themembers when separated may be moved bi-directionally, then joinedtogether to again become locked. To permit adjustment and locking, thefirst member has slots 24 which extend parallel to a line of theprojections, and the second member has slots 26 which extend parallel tothe projections at 90 ° with the slots 24. The slots are aligned,preferably centered, on each other, bolts 28 inserted and locked withwashers 30 and nuts 32. It is a simple matter to loosen the bolts, movethe members apart, make an adjustment horizontally or vertically, andfasten the nuts to lock the members together again. This constructionpermits bi-directional adjusting and locking. The projection may bealmost any shape as long as the spaces are uniform and the alignment ismaintained. In FIG. 5, the projections 30 and recesses 32 are square. Itis preferable, however, that the projections be tapered inward and therecesses be shaped accordingly to permit ease of insertion andalignment. Thus, FIGS. 6 through 9 show preferred embodiments. In FIG.6, member 34 has conical projections 36 which mate with conical shapedrecesses 38 in member 40. In FIG. 7, member 42 has pyramidal shapedprojections 44 to mate with similar shaped recesses 46 in member 48.When the projections and recesses are tapered, the projections may becontiguous, instead of separated as shown, to obtain finer adjustment.Another preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, has frustum shapedprojections 50 on member 52 which mate into frustum shaped recesses 54in member 56. These projections, as shown in FIG. 9, may be eitherfrusto-conical or frusto-pyramidal.

In FIG. 10, the bi-directional coupling 10 with members 12 and 14 isused to obtain adjustable alignment of a latch track 58 for a door 60. Alatch 62 has a torque tube 64 with offset arm 66 for rotating a roller68 into contact with the latch track and lock the door into position.The bi-directional coupling of this invention gives a lightweightcoupling for adjustable latch control; however, it is not desired tolimit this coupling to this use as it may be used in all applicationswhere bi-directional adjustment is required.

FIGS. 1 and 2 showed a preferred method of fastening the adjustablemating members together, but it is not intended that the fastening belimited to that means as the members may be joined by any known means,such as with cams or clamps, to name a few.

When the pattern is symmetrical about one or more planes through thepattern, the coupling may be rotated between identical planes ofsymmetry. Thus, in the square pattern shown in FIGS. 1 through 9, thecouplings may be moved bi-directionally at 90° from each other; and, inaddition, one of the members may be rotated 90° with respect to theother member and again permit bi-directional adjustment. When thepattern is arranged symmetrically at 60°, as is shown in FIGS. 11 and12, the couplings may be adjusted bi-directionally at 90°; and, inaddition, one of the members may be rotated 60° with respect to theother member and again permit bi-directional adjustment. In FIGS. 11 and12, projections 70 of member 72 are arranged symmetrically at an angleof 60°. Member 74 has recesses 76 to mate with the projections. In FIG.12, member 74 has been rotated 60° with respect to member 72. In eitherof these positions, bi-directional adjustments may be made.

I claim:
 1. A door latch mechanism comprising: a first member of acoupling, said first member having a multiplicity of inwardly taperedprojections located in bi-directional alignment at 90°, a second memberhaving a multiplicity of recesses shaped and located to receive theprojections from the first member to permit the two members whenseparated to be moved bi-directionally and to be locked when joinedtogether, a door latch and door latch track one of which is mounted tothe second member, and means for adjustably locking the two memberstogether to effect an adjustment between the latch and the latch track.2. A door latch mechanism as in claim 1 wherein the means for lockingthe two members together comprises: at least one slot through the firstmember to extend parallel to one direction of alignment of theprojections, at least one slot through the second member centered on theslot in the first member and the slot extends in a transverse directionfrom the slot in the first member, and means for fastening the memberstogether through the aligned slots.
 3. A door latch mechanism as inclaim 1 wherein one of the members of the coupling is attached to adoor.
 4. A door latch mechanism as in claim 1 wherein one of the membersof the coupling is attached to a doorjamb.